The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-09-03

were SiOWeu, duu ehe hoaeOu ioiouAN'J ~"
upon the bark, and when within easy hail
she was stopped The derelict, if such she
were. was very visible object now. Her
wheel, standing nakedly, revolved to right
or left with the swaying of the rudder to
the blows of the swell. An element OF
solemnity was impaired to the Tapping
noises of the canvas and the grinding and
creaking sounds, breaking from the hull
and structure aloft by the striking of bell
at intervals sufficiently measured to render
the notes funereal in their way. All hands
aboard the steamer leaned over the rail
gazing at the bark, and you marked the
working of salt superstitious instincts IN
more than one mahogany countenance as
the vibratory chime ofthe hidden bell aboard
the tenantless vessel drove thinly musical
through the still atmosphere.
"It'll be the rolling that keeps that bell
going" said the Captain; "but it's sound
to make man feel clammy." He put
both hands, followed, to his mouth, and
roared out 10 hurricane note, "Bark
ahoy!"
There was no response. Every eye
searched each fathom of the vessels length,
but nothing stirred save the shadows
/ That which filed everybody with wonder
was that there should be smoke fltering
from the galley chimney, proving the gal
ley fire to be alight, and yet nobody to show
himself.
of she's abandoned, sir" said the mate,
cher people can't have been long gone :
wonder smoke proves that. They ought to
be within sight" (hesenta long look around),
"unless,' he added, ''they're buried in one
of those banks"
By this time the steamer had insensibly
glided forward SO as to open the starboard
side of the bark, and it was then seen, as
the mate had said, that one of her boats was
gone the davits were slued out and the
falls overhauled to the waters edge with
the blocks dripping to the roll of the vessel.
He name was also visible, written in bold
letters on her stern, Ocean Star"
"Better go aboard and see what's the
matter, Mr. Williams" said the Captain,
ltPity some wind don't come along and blow
those clouds away. The crew may be hid
den in one of them, as you say but its an
unintelligible Job, iP ever there was one,
Haul taut on you nerve tackles, sir, for
there may be an ugly sight to greet ye."
A boat was got over, and four men
rowed the chief officer to the bark. The
men tugging at the oars were incessantly
looking past their shoulders, so confounded
we're they by the sight Of the smoke going
straight up out of the galley chimney, and
by the absence of life which the spectacle
Of the smoke accumulated to their dull un-
lettered understandings ; as if in truth the
vessel were manned by viewleSs mariners
who watched their approach, phantom-like,
from the bulwark rail-
''In oars p A boat-hook cleverly caught
mizzen-channel plate, and in trice Mr.
Williams, followed by a couple Of hands
gained the deck, The Captains hint had
prepared the mates mind, and he gazed
about him for something horrible There
was nothing at all, however, in that way
to be seen. Indeed, there was no further
confusion than ends of ropes lying about
coils of halliards which had been lifted of
the pins and thrown down, and let go in &
hurry and left to lie, as much of them a.
remained when the yards were doWl. She
was snug, clean vessel, decks Of q goqd
COLOR paIgtwnFk fresh, bFassW1rk bright
aush fore and aft, and the furnitpre-sucf
as the hinpacles, pumps, eapstan, skylishts
companions, and SO forth-excelIent ii
their kind.
"Nothing wrong above board, anyhow,
said the mate; off there's anything in thu
creeping line, it'll be below"
There were some cocks and hens in ;
coop forward gaping with thirst. The matt
dropped the dipper into the scutt-butt annt
filed their trough, and tho creatures dranl
with extraordinary demonstrations OF plou'
thanksgiving in their manner Of looking
aloft to let the water drain down. Their
had been pig under the long-boat, but h'
was gone. There was nothing alive bu
, the cocks and hens. The mate looked
about him for the sounding-rod, and, find
ing It, sounded the we'll, and found th'
bark as free as the steamer was, He mad'
the tour Of the deck, followed by the men
one OF whom smothered the tongue OF thu
bell with some yarns, peering eagerly as III
went, never knowing but that the mex
step would bring him to dead man in thu
wake of mast, or concealed by bulwarl
stanchiou and the gear about it; but thu
decks were as free of the dead as the living
He looked into the galley and found ;
good fire burning so good that both h'
and the others agreed that i mNst have
been made up affesh within the time thu
, Guide had first sighted the vessel, for thu
! Goals were splitting out gas flames, anC
burned as fresh Goals do. There was ;
large saucepan boiling on the fire, and OF
lifting the lid and looking in they spied I
, fowl clumsily plucked. The mate startec
and stared at the others.
, aThere must be men aboard" he cried
syou want no better proof than this l
, they made off at sight Of US, where's thei
boat? They wouldn't have had time t
fetch the nearest of those fog banks. No
we must have seen 'em. And why shoult
; they have wanted to make off? Wha
was there to frighten EN- overheard in thu
sighting of our steamer? Depend upon it
they're aboard-below-in hiding; but
great thunderl ,ehat tors ?"
awill you search the ship p said one o
the men.
3 aCertainly."
aStand by, sir, there may be som
/ bloomin' roose in this business. ;.
SFollow or stay, as you please" said tn,
E mate 81 have my orders" With whicl
] he walked to the companion hatch and de
! seended the steps. The othelS followed
t Mr., Williams was q stoHt-heaFted man
E nevertheless be entered the cabin with ex
8 treme caution, stepping very slowly, AM
with his eyes starting from his head. Th
! seeing nothing to account for the myster.
j of this bark's situation astonished and dis
E MAYED him more than had he encounters
t terribly tragical solution of the riddle
a The cabin was pleasant, clean, sum,
' apartment, with a table amidships, locker
stuffed with hair on either hand, hand
| some silver-plated lamp over the table,
$ few hanging shelves with books, and othe
IL